Source: New PSL boss promises to deliver -Newsday Zimbabwe
NEWLY-ELECTED Premier Soccer League (PSL) chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa has pledged to deliver on his manifesto, promising a transformative era for Zimbabwean domestic football.
His victory in the hotly contested elections, held yesterday in Harare, saw him emerge victorious after a nail-biting second round, securing a 10-8 win against Masimba Chihowa.
Mupfurutsa, who also chairs Simba Bhora, takes the reins from Farai Jere, the Caps United president who stepped down in December eyeing a Zifa post.
The new PSL boss will now automatically join the Zifa executive committee, led by president Nqobile Magwizi, a move expected to foster greater synergy between the league and the national football governing body.
Addressing the media after his win, Mupfurutsa acknowledged the intense competition.
“I would like to say it was a tough race. The contestants actually gave a strong fight, particularly Governor Chihowa,” he said.
“And I think having such a tough election is very healthy. It also gives legitimacy to the winners.”
He underscored the weight of the mandate bestowed upon him by the PSL governors.
“They have given their trust to me, which is also a big load or a heavy load on me because I carried the expectations of all the stakeholders including the governors who have voted for me.”
The election was a two-round affair.
In the initial round, Mupfurutsa garnered eight votes, reportedly supported by clubs like Scottland, Simba Bhora, Herentals, TelOne, ZPC Kariba, Highlanders, Yadah and Kwekwe United.
Chihowa followed with five votes from Manica Diamonds, Green Fuels, Bikita Minerals, Triangle and Caps United.
Dumisani Sisale (FC Platinum and Chicken Inn) and Leonard Musariri (Ngezi Platinum, Dynamos and MWOS) secured two and three votes, respectively.
The absence of a decisive majority led to a “dog-eat-dog” second round.
Mupfurutsa successfully consolidated his support, notably gaining the votes of FC Platinum and Chicken Inn, which had previously backed Sisale.
This strategic shift propelled him to his 10-8 victory over Chihowa.
Chihowa’s second-round tally included his initial supporters plus Ngezi Platinum, MWOS and Dynamos, reflecting the dynamic alliances at play.
The outcome, heavily influenced by some of the new rich clubs, is seen by many as a signal of evolving power dynamics within Zimbabwean football.
Mupfurutsa’s immediate focus will be on delivering on the promises outlined in his manifesto.
“There’s a lot now that we need to do going forward. We have shared our manifestos and what is now left is for us to do to actually deliver on what we promised. We already know what people want,” he said.
“We know the expectations of the stakeholders. There’s nothing new that we are going to be looking at. But we are simply going to be implementing what we promised. Implementing what would live to the expectations of the stakeholders.”
His leadership team includes Highlanders’ Kenneth Mhlophe, who secured the vice-chairman position unopposed, along with Moses Maunganidze of Dynamos and Oscah Nduwure of TelOne, who were elected as Emergency Committee members.
The new PSL leadership now faces the critical task of steering the league towards greater stability, professionalism and commercial viability, addressing long-standing challenges and embracing the mandate for a new direction in Zimbabwean football.
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